Media.Knet.Ca

Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge deadline of May 6 only four weeks away!

With only four weeks left for writing before the May 6 deadline, this is a reminder that the Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge is happening again this year with even more prizes in store!
 
The Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge provides an opportunity for Aboriginal youth across the country to have their voices heard. We hope to uncover the budding creativity and talent of our youth and through these stories educate all Canadians about the moments that have shaped our country and its people.  

We are asking young Aboriginal Canadians (Status, Non-status, Métis, Inuit) ages 14-18 or 19-29 to submit a creative short story about a moment in history written from an Aboriginal perspective.  Last year’s submissions included stories on the first meeting between Europeans and First Nations peoples, residential schools, modern-day elections on reserves and the sharing of knowledge from generation to generation.  (Please see the contest website for story length guidelines - www.our-story.ca)

The first-prize winner of the 14-18 age group will receive a $500 prize and the winner of the 19-29 age group will receive $1000.  Both winners will be profiled in a Canadian Learning Television and Book Television production, published in The Beaver Magazine: Canada’s History Magazine and to travel to Ottawa to read an excerpt from his/her story at a special celebration event. Participants with a story in the top ten in either age group will receive a $200 prize. All winning essays will be published online and all participants will receive a letter of recognition for their participation. The deadline for submissions is May 6, 2006. A Committee of Aboriginal authors, including actress Tantoo Cardinal from Calgary and journalist Rachel Qitsualik from Iqualuit, will judge the submissions. 

****SPECIAL NOTE TO TEACHERS AND YOUTH GROUPS****

New this year - the first four classes or youth groups to jointly submit their stories will received a digital camcorder!

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
_____________________
Annie Lindsay
Programme Coordinator
The Dominion Institute
183 Bathurst Street, Suite 401
Toronto, ON M5T 2R7
416.368.9627 or 866.701.1867
fax 416.368.2111

from News and Updates at http://telehealth.knet.ca

Telehealth Community Engagement 
Posted by: Tina Kakepetum Schultz on Wednesday, April 12

My name is Tina Kakepetum Schultz. I have been recently hired as the KO Telehealth Community Engagement Worker.

One of my job requirements is to work with the First Nations that are connected to Telehealth on the Kuhkenah Network (K-Net). My first task was to meet with the 24 Chiefs and Council from each of these communities.

The Health Canada Primary Care Health Transition program funding that supported the KO Telehealth program ended March 31, 2006. FNIHB announced they will extend the program by an additional four months (April - July) providing bridge funding for the existing telehealth services. The next two years of funding was presented as an interim step towards developing a longer term telehealth sustainability strategy under the  First Nations Health Blueprint negotiated in Kelowna.

KO Telehealth was given two tasks to complete within the first four months of this two year interim funding period:

1. KOTH has to obtain 24 signed agreements (BCRs) from Chiefs and Councils of each partner KOTH First Nation supporting reinvestment of travel costs savings into sustaining Telehealth.
2. Build a sustainability business case for Telehealth.

If the work of obtaining the BCRs from all the First Nations is successful, then FNIHB will support an additional 20 months of funding to build a sustainability plan for Telehealth.

Since February 24, 2006, I have met with 20 First Nations to discuss future sustainability funding for Telehealth.

I would like to say thank you to the Chiefs and Councils who have made a commitment to support the ongoing operation of the KO Telehealth initiative. The following First Nations are commited to providing BCRs supporting this program:

• Bearskin Lake
• Big Trout Lake
• Cat Lake Lake
• Deer Lake
• Eabametoong
• Fort Severn
• Kasabonika
• Kingfisher
• Lac Seul
• Mishkeegogamang
• Muskrat Dam
• Neskantaga
• North Caribou Lake
• North Spirit Lake
• Pikangikum
• Poplar Hill
• Sachigo Lake
• Sandy Lake
• Webequie
• Wunnimun Lake

I will be meeting with Slate Falls, Keewaywin, Nibinamik and Wapakeka First Nations over the next two weeks.

I would like to thank each of the Chief and Council for the kindness and hospitality they showed to me during our video conference meetings as well as receiving me into their communities. I look forward to working closely  with each community in the coming years. 

MiiQuetch!!!